Summer...in pictures

 

 

April...The Dam Run in Emmett. We started waaayyy down there. All the level ground or downhill parts wouldn't add up to one football field. 3.8 miles UP! But I made it...10 feet at a time sometimes.

 

 

JUNE

 

 

The Pied Piper of Boise. At the Bright Family Reunion Tom always announces, "I'm going up to the spring now" and all the kids go along with him.

 

 

Right after the Family Reunion we went camping in American Fork Canyon with the Grubers.

 

 

Then a day at Lagoon. It's time for the pre-mission traditions.

 

 

 

JULY

 

 

 Baby shower for Laney

 

 

And we got a new pet...meet Tevye. He's about three months old now.

 

 

Then I went to the Oregon Coast with my girlfriends for a week...

 

 

followed immediately with a family vacation in Yellowstone...

 

 

 

and the Tetons...

 

 

followed immediately by girl's camp.

 L to R: Back: Charity Cummings, Kennedy Franz, Emily Luker, Paige Zohner, Megan Brown, Me, Kristin Conrad

Front: Noele Alder, Samantha Scholes, Ciara Loman, Blakely Conrad, Kaylie, Kylie Jenks, Maggie Walker

 

It's so nice to stay home!

I'm in love!

John and Laney sent this to me this morning. Since they finally posted a photo on facebook I feel I can do it here. It is so amazing what technology does now.

 

Isn't she gorgeous?!!!!

 

I love looking at this picture. I could look at it all day. Being abuelita is going to be fantastic!

50th Birthday

Yes, I'm getting old. 

It sounds old when I think about the fact that I've lived more than half my life. 

Wow! 

Most of the time I think I'm still 30 so I'm really not that old! 

I had a great birthday. 

Hannah and I rode our bikes to the music store downtown. I learned that she likes to spend time there browsing, so she can pick out music to save for. Then we went to the library where we both picked up a book or two. I learned there that Hannah reads music alot more than she reads books. When we got home we stole a piece of my birthday cake. Too bad I didn't take a picture. It was too die for. 

Easy Chocolate Cake

2 1/4 cups flour

1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp cocoa

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup oil

1/3 cup applesauce

1 1/2 cup cold water

3 tsp vanilla

3 T vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 9 x 13 pan. Whisk together flour, cocoa, soda, salt and sugar. Add oil, applesauce, water, vanilla and stir. Add vinegar and quickly stir until combined. Pour into pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. 16 servings equals 128 calories per serving. 

The frosting was kind of like a chocolate pudding. If you're interested call me. You'll die to find out what it was made of. And it was soooo good! 

Later that night we had a cooking clinic for girls' camp. We made Poppyseed Chicken, rice and brownies in Dutch ovens. We also roasted corn on the cob in the fire and made banana boats. The girls had alot of fun, and the food was yummy. Especially the corn and the banana boats. 

In the weeks leading up to my birthday, my sister in law Christi kept pestering me about my birthday plans. 

"What are you going to do for your 50th birthday? Are you going to have a party?" 

"No, I just want a quiet night at home with the family."

"Oh, come on. You only turn 50 once. You need to have a party or something special." 

Well, Christi...

I spent my 50th birthday with my girlfriends! 

James Stephen Jenson...high school graduate

 

There he is!

 

He's in line!

 

Walking the stage!

 

Seniors singing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"

 

James is right above the head, Hannah is in the orchestra

 

James with Grandma and Grandpa Bright--this is the first graduation they have attended

 

James Stephen Jenson

 

Proud parents

 

Hannah and James

 

James and Timothy

Four year seminary graduate

Sunday was seminary graduation. I cried through every hymn and when James's name was called. I'd better take a box of Kleenex to the other graduation on Friday!
 
I'm really proud of James, and look forward to seeing what he does with his future. 

James

 

With Bishop and Sister Smith

 

With President Christensen

 

With Bishop McMurdie

 

With Kaycee

 

With Grandma and Grandpa Bright

 

With Linda

The family and Vicky Wilson

 

James, Timothy and Tom

Senior Photos

Mandie Anderson did such a good job on these!

I can't believe my tiny guy is a senior and will graduate in less than two weeks. I never thought we'd get to this point in life. Here he is, all 5 foot 6 inch and 126 pounds...my future novelist and poet/English teacher.

I know he was being silly, but these are two of my favorites. It just captured him so perfectly.

 

I really like this one, too.